Page 87 of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

“No, that’s okay,” I said, though I wasn’t certain if the information would be important or not. “What about Briggs?”

“Parker Briggs is the black sheep of the family,” Braden said. “He’s never held down a real job as far as I can tell. Ostensibly he works for his father, Roland Briggs, but there are more articles about him at parties and getting in trouble than there are about his business. Typical trust fund brat,” Braden said derisively. “You know the type.”

I did. Several of our clients had offspring like Parker Briggs.

“And Roland runs the family business?”

“Yes, with his daughter Abigail Briggs Horowitz and her husband, who is the company attorney.”

“He’s also a philanthropist, right?”

“Right. The Briggs Family Trust had a big write-up just last week on renovating the children’s hospital in New Orleans.”

Diana Harden was from New Orleans. No book detective believed in coincidences. “Oh?” I said.

“It’s where they live. At least, the dad and the Horowitzes live there. I don’t know about Parker. He gets around, and is seen often in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles—that’s where he seems to have gotten into the most trouble.”

“Would you say the Briggs family business is healthy?”

“They have A ratings across the board, and Roland Briggs and his daughter are well respected.”

“Thanks.” I hesitated, then just let it out. “Do you know much about Ethan Valentine? He got his start when Briggs bought his data compression software.”

“Valentine Enterprises? Not much. Valentine keeps a low profile, but...” She heard him type on his laptop. “Business is very healthy. A few disgruntled board members because he’s so reclusive, but they created and now manufacture one of the top video games in the world. Sort of likeWhere in the World Is Carmen SandiegomeetsChoose Your Own Adventure, but with guns and bombs. They’re coming out with a new edition at the end of the year. Preorders have already exceeded the last edition.”

In the background I heard Amanda say, “Tell her to stop working and have fun!”

“I’m not working,” I said.

“Neither of us believe that,” Braden said.

“I’mnot,” I repeated. “In fact, I need to hang up right now and finish getting ready.” I was going to be late meeting Brie.

I heard rustling on the other end. Then Amanda came on the line. “I want pictures,” she demanded.

“To prove I’m having fun?”

“Yes.”

I laughed. “I’ll see what I can do. Goodbye.” I ended the call and shut down my laptop.

I didn’t know what, if anything, Ethan Valentine had to do with Diana Harden or Parker Briggs, but there wassomeconnection to both, and now I was curious.

I felt surprisingly nervous as I applied makeup and fussed with my hair. This was it, I thought. I would put Diana Harden’s murder aside, not worry about potential suspects, and think only of Jason.

I don’t know why I was so nervous.

Chapter Twenty-One

“If there’s a justification for my actions right now, it’s this: I have gone completely mad.”

—Veronica Mars

Brie was sitting on a recliner on the edge of the patio, drinking something pink. I sat on the chair next to her. “I’m sorry. I was talking to my office, and time got away from me.” I looked at my watch. “Okay, I have twenty minutes before the shuttle leaves for the ferry.”

“You’re going on the cruise?”

“Yeah. Jason’s working, and it’s my birthday so...”